PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Courtney Akbar has not been in the filmmaking scene long, but in her 4 year career, she’s already been cast in 13 projects, including the TV series Parks & Recreation, a thriller called Smoke-Filled Lungs (2016), the sci-fi film, Astro (2018 – read our review of the film here) and the 2015 short, Devoured. Now she’s starring in the upcoming Circus Road (written and directed by Minh Collins), a film sure to frighten all you coulrophobes out there. We were lucky to get a chance to chat with Courtney about her career, her recent projects and more.
PopHorror: Thanks so much for talking with us, Courtney! How did you get your start in film?
Courtney Akbar: I got my start in film after moving to LA from a small town in Massachusetts. After a year or so, my husband, Asif – who was my boyfriend at the time – brought me on to productions to teach me and introduce me to the world of film. I’ve been very fortunate to have more of a hands-on type of film schooling and have gained experience behind the scenes and in front of the camera over the past several years.
PopHorror: What was your first film role like?
Courtney Akbar: My first film role was a bit of a surprise, actually. I was hired onto a film in the Production Management department, and a few days into shooting, I was asked to be in one scene. I remember being so excited and nervous because it was my first time on camera, but I was ready for my first opportunity. It was a small part, but it led to being offered my next role by producers on the set.
PopHorror: You must have really made an impression! I notice that you’ve done a few horror and sci-fi films like Astro (2018). Is that your preferred genre to act in?
Courtney Akbar: I am really happy and proud to have so many genres under my belt right now that I honestly don’t think I have too much of a preference. Each genre has something special I really enjoy about it. I definitely like the imagination that it takes in creating sci-fi films, and I almost constantly watch horror movies myself, so I really do enjoy these types of productions. But I also enjoy the thrill of an action film, and how much a drama can make you feel. As an actress, I want to keep my versatility, and I love challenging myself in every way that I can.
PopHorror: Tell me a bit about your upcoming film, Circus Road, and what we can expect from it.
Courtney Akbar: Circus Road is not your typical clown movie. A bride who was rejected at the altar and her bridesmaids go into the desert to escape reality for a few days, but they break down in a desolate desert town run by a clown cult, and they end up in a worse reality created by the Clownies. Fans of horror can expect creepy clowns, gory murders, scares, adventure, some humor and a horrifying story line.
PopHorror: What is your role in Circus Road? Can you relate to that character at all?
Courtney Akbar: My role in Circus Road is Kat, the daughter of the cult leaders, Little Clown and Myrtle. Kat is young, sweet, and naive, and I feel that any woman can relate to feeling that way at some point in their lives. She also has very sheltering and over-protective parents, which I can relate to growing up. It was really transforming to become Kat, because it really has shown me on a deep level that, no matter where a person comes from or what they have done or been forced to do, we can all relate to each other on one level or another.
PopHorror: Are you afraid of clowns?
Courtney Akbar: I feel very fortunate to not have had any bad experiences with clowns in my life, so I kind of like clowns! But clown dolls, on the other hand, are a big “No” from me.
PopHorror: When can the horror community expect to see Circus Road?
Courtney Akbar: From what I’ve been told so far, it is going to be released later this year around Halloween time!
PopHorror: Ooh, I can’t wait! You were also in the 2018 sci-fi film, Astro. Can you tell us a bit about that one and your role in it?
Courtney Akbar: Astro is an original movie about an extra-terrestrial being abducted from their home planet and brought to earth by a hardened billionaire who runs tests on him to find out his DNA is connected to an old military colleague of his named Jack. The movie revolves mostly around Jack, who ends up becoming trapped as a prisoner by this billionaire. My role in this film is Laura-Lee, Jack’s only daughter. Laura wants to stick by her dad’s side no matter what, from house explosions to fighting bad guys and hiding out – nothing seems to deter her. Astro was the intro to the complex Astro Universe, which has a novel out now that expands on the movie and has what wasn’t able to make the final cut on screen.
PopHorror: Do you have any other upcoming projects that you’d like to talk about?
Courtney Akbar: I’m looking at a few different scripts at the moment, and am currently working on a TV series pilot.
PopHorror: PopHorror is a horror review site, so I have to ask: what’s your favorite scary movie?
Courtney Akbar: Right now, my favorite scary movie that made everyone I know freak out is definitely Terrifier [2017 – read our review of the film here]. I’m a huge fan of psychological horror movies, and I really enjoy a good, gory slasher film. For me, Terrifier had me cringing the entire movie and that demon clown, Art, definitely has some psychological issues! (laughs)
We want to send a great big THANK YOU to Courtney for taking the time to chat with us. Keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming review of Circus Road, and as always, stay tuned to PopHorror for all of your pop culture and horror news, reviews and interviews!
